The administration of Nkambe last
week transferred their offices to the Nkambe district hospital where workers of
the hospital launched their strike action after forwarded 21 points against the
Director of the hospital Dr, Joseph Wirga Kun. Their problems among others were
the poor management, no incentive to staff, and brutality of the Director. They
questioned the lack of payment of salary, arias for over 2 years whereas income
from mortuary, CD 4count drugs donated by a politician, Ngala Gerald worth
Millions. The Staff said they sign money and receive a smaller amount over
laboured and very few in number. No employment and few workers receive
irregular salary below labour code. In meetings, the doctor speaks alone and
allows no body to talk as some assistant doctors are shut up when they want to
speak in the meeting. The Econome of the district hospital with the doctor were
the accused person. It is alleged that some equipments of the hospital are at
large and other exchange with broken ones. Patients like care takers are
cleaners of the hospital, take away drips from the body. On Tuesday, the 2nd
assistant SDO of Donga Mantung Nicholas Manshang Nkongko from 9am to about 11
pm set up a committee to prop into the issue. The committee visited all the
income generating sectors of the hospital, the mortuary, drugs donated by Mr
Ngala Gerald for HIV/AIDS treatment centre and CD 4count machine. To the pass
two years, the staff of the hospital have been on series of strike action but
Dr Wirba Joseph argued that it was the 1st time. Reacting to the
stalemate, the Director of the district hospital Dr. Joseph said that the main
problem is the problem shortage of staff which led to double work. He however
he admitted that the staff strikes action was legitimate. “I took over this
hospital with close to 40 staff, but today there are less than 20”. Dr. Wirba
stated. Here many argued that it was the poor management that leads to the poor
staffing situation due to resignation and other actions. He equally argued that
he run the hospital on Government policy called cost recovery despite all, all
the services are available, Machines regularly
repaired and functional. The Dr. continued that the revenue colle3ction of
the hospital raise from about 9.1 million in 2008 to about 13 million in 2011.
Some at the hospital recount that 13 million is very insignificant compared to
the services rendered at the hospital today to that of 2008. Clearly saying
that most of the machines are privately owned by the Director and all the money
into his pocket but he told the press that most of the equipment is borrowed,
where, when, how, and under which conditions are the equipments borrowed and
used in the government hospital, the Dr. did not tell the press. Besides the
lack of Water, electricity, technicians, There are many positive changes, the
potentials of this hospital is still far under estimated, and used whiled CD 4
counts here is 3000 FRS in other places is 8000 FRS Dr Wirba stated. Yet, it is
alleged that at the Nkambe hospital, medical certificate that cost 900 FCFA is
now issued at 7500 FCFA. That staff on the spot according to allegations
collects 500 FCFA while 7000 FCFA is handed to the Director, yet staff has been
going for months without salary. Sources say the Nkambe hospital has been
transformed into an extraordinary affair whereby resources are pocketed.
21 points Against Director
Note should be taken that with
effects from Monday 23rd of April 2012, we the staff will stop
working unless a detail, written and satisfactory response is given to the
following points below.
QUOTE PART MOTIVATION REVENUE
SET ASIDE AND DRUGS BONUS
1.
On how to share quote part, revenue set aside, and
drugs bonuses as well defined criteria for each staff should be spelt out by
the director in line with the text.
2.
Why is quote part taking too long to be distributed?
3.
Why is it sometimes changed by the director when
calculated?
4.
Quote part revenue set aside and drug bonuses should
not enter the black box of performance base financing (PBF) with or without a
signed contract with PBF
STAFFING SITUATION
5.
Why are some workers employed and not paid for long?
6.
Why are they collecting less than what they sign for?
7.
Is it really impossible for the management of the
hospital to recruit? Because the work load is too much for the few that are
there.
8.
If it is possible then the recruited staff must be paid
regularly according to the labor code.
WORKING CONDITIONS
9.
Daily working materials are grossly being absent, and a
deaf ear is given to requisition. What is happening to the running credits of
the state?
10. work
load is more on staff especially when the second doctor is not on seat because
the director takes more time in his office for technical services
(Electrocardiogram, Ultra Sound and Administration) and many emergency cases
are either abandoned at our services or go elsewhere. Sadly enough, the second
doctor is hushed down in general staff meetings when he raises functional
problem. Why?
11. The
staff expects more empowerment and financial motivation to Unit Heads.
12. Communication
credits and means of transportation for hospital transactions should be
allocated.
MEETINGS
13. Staff
meetings are not held monthly, they are too long, the director speaks almost
alone and most often no entertainment even though they are budgeted for.
INCOME
14. Consultation
books, Hygiene fees, Mortuary fees, CD 4count fees, TB fees, Bed fees, Files,
money collected from HIV tests and Government credits: Ultra sound and ECG. How
is money generated from these sources managed when the hospital is still poorly
equipped, lack of staff with poor motivation, poor Hygiene and sanitation and
part of the money is not accounted for by the Econome?
15. Cost
recovery and k-value is also a source of income in the hospital. Why are some
k-values transferred to cost recovery whereas most incentives come from
k-values?
16. Why
is there an increase in some cost recoveries?
17. Knowing
the ECG and the ultra sound machines are owned privately, what are their
percentages allocated to the hospital?
18. How
the treatment centre account is managed (the credit union Account)?
DONATED DRUGS
19. Knowing
that not all the drugs donated by Mr Gerard Ngala were expired, can we have
inventory of the unexpired drugs and how they are managed?
20. can
a commission be set up to take an inventory of the unexpired drugs so the the
public can benefit from them?
PERFORMANCE BASE FINANCING (PBF)
21. We welcome PBF whole heartedly couple to
the fact that our problems will be solved.
To conclude, we wish that the
above mentioned problems be redressed with satisfactory answers, in order to
better the working conditions of the staff and quality services rendered to the
population;
Yours sincerely
STAFF
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